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HIV Programmatic Training Cape Town 2019

Operational Research

Petros Isaakidis Senior OR Advisor, SAMU Emilie Venables Qualitative Research Focal Point, SAMU/LuxOR

• Identify how operational research can contribute to operational objectives

• Understand process and components of OR through examples

• Identify available resources for OR

Objectives of session

Is MSF a research organization?

A. Yes, it is! B. No, it is not! C. I have no clue!

Quiz 1

Operational research

Implementation Research (IR/IS)

Health Systems Research (HSR)

And for MSF?

How many papers are published every year by MSF OCB alone?

A. 1-2 B. 10-20 C. 100-150

Quiz 2

And for MSF?

The OR process

Research Question/ Concept Note

Protocol

Data Collection

Data Analysis & Report/Publication

Dissemination for Policy & Practice Change

1. New tests and diagnostics 2. New drugs and clinical approaches 3. Prevention 4. Monitoring and evaluation 5. Models of care

OR in MSF TB/HIV projects

How is OR done in MSF?

• From analysis of routine M&E to multisite randomized control trials

• Different levels: project, country, OC, inter-national/-sectional

• “Top-down”/”Down-top”

• Partners/support, epidemiologists and M&E coordinators (project, national, OC), OC research units, Epicentre, academic institutions & MoH

Ethical approval process

• MSF ERB ethics framework / guidelines*

• MSF ERB ethics application forms* • 7 MSF ERB criteria for an

exemption from MSF ERB review* – Full ethics review – Expedite ethics review – Exemption

• Do not forget the LOCAL ethics

Usually 6-8 weeks… Worry not…

Research Question

Protocol

Ethics review/approval

Stuck for ever

Who in the field is in charge of OR? A. The epi B. The PMR/Fieldco C. The Medco D. Nobody in the field E. Everybody

Quiz 3

How is OR done in MSF?

• OCP Epicentre (+ field) • OCA field+ HQ + Manson Unit • OCG field+ HQ (+ Epicentre) • OCBA field+ HQ (+ Epicentre) • OCB field+ HQ (+ Epicentre)

– HIV/TB/HCV SAMU – Other topics LuxOR

The OR process

Research Question/ Concept Note

Protocol

Data Collection

Data Analysis & Report/Publication

Dissemination for Policy & Practice Change

• What form(s) can qualitative research data take? A. Numbers B. Western blot lab test C. Words D. WhatsApp messages E. Photos/pictures F. Videos

Quiz 3

How and when do we do qualitative research?

Before implementing a

project or intervention

During a project

At the end: evaluation

Stand alone qualitative research….

…or mixed methods

Examples of qualitative research

Experiences of HIV stigma

Adherence and retention

challenges

Acceptability of PrEP

Understanding discordant couples

Reasons for non-attendance of men

at facilities

Experiences of drug stockouts

Barriers & motivations for

joining adherence clubs

Preferences for models of care

Perceptions on oral testing

Example: PrEP in Beira, Mozambique • Qualitative research was conducted to understand the experiences of sex-

workers taking PrEP in Beira – Part of mixed methods study on PrEP in Tete and Beira

• In-depth interviews and focus group discussions carried out with female sex-

workers and MSF staff

• Data shows: – Lack of knowledge of PrEP before being informed by MSF – Some misunderstandings about how PrEP worked – Some women stopped PrEP because of side-effects and travel – Appreciation for services and support received from MSF

The OR process

Research Question/ Concept Note

Protocol

Data Collection

Data Analysis & Report/Publication

Dissemination for Policy & Practice Change

The long walk from idea to implementation to policy change : the example of DR TB decentralization in SA

2007 idea –> 2011 report –> 2012 national policy –> 2014 publication

Case study for group work

You are working in CHK in Kinshasa. Over the last 6 months, you have noticed that an increasing number of adult patients are being admitted with advanced HIV disease. You have routine patient data and observations from the staff but you want to learn more Group 1: Brainstorm and list a research agenda (max 4 studies) for CHK and then prioritise ONE project and justify your choice Group 2: design a quantitative study to find out more… Group 3: design a qualitative study to find out more… Group 4: Your study is complete. Who will you share the results with? Make a plan for advocacy and action.

• Write answers on flipchart

• 20 minutes preparation then each group presents for 5 minutes • 5 minutes questions per group

Group exercise

• Research is a tool and a culture and not a skillset

• Research should be integrated into programmes & field teams OWN the research projects

• The aim of any OR is to improve the

services we offer to patients and communities and to advocate for change

Wrap up

Some practical information and OR resources

OR Resources

• PubMed literature search: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/

• Repository: - http://fieldresearch.msf.org/msf/

• Journal articles & TOC: aline.raymond@brussels.msf.org

• MSF HIV domains & topics (to align OR & advocacy)*

• OR concept note template* • OR protocol template* • OR methodological support people

(protocol development, data analysis, writing-up of results)

Research Question

Protocol

Data Collection

Data Analysis & Report

Dissemination for Policy & Practice Change

Trainings and support

• SORT-IT courses: quantitative and qualitative and thematic

• Country-specific OR workshops (designed for specific needs)

• Ongoing mentoring and field support

Asia 108 India 9 Bangladesh 24 Pakistan 5 Afghanistan 7 Nepal 10 Bhutan 5 Sri Lanka 4 Uzbekistan 3 Tadjikistan

1 Singapore 7 China 3 Vietnam 1 Mongolia 4 Cambodia 45 Myanmar 2 Kazaksthan 1 Turkmenistan 2 Kyrgysthan 1 Timor Leste 1 Indonesia 1 Malaysia

Multi-Country 1 Africa/ Asia

South America 5 Brazil 11 Peru 2 Mexico 1 El Salvador 11 Colombia 1 Dominican Republic 1 Guatemala 1 Honduras 2 Haiti

South Pacific 3 New Caledonia 1 Cook Islands 2 Tonga 3 Marshall Islands 3 Federated States of Micronesia 2 Solomon Islands 3 Vanuata 25 Fiji 1 American Somoa 1 Somoa 1 Guam 4 Kiribati 2 Palau

Africa 36 Kenya 11 South Africa 10 Ethiopia 17 Malawi 25 Zimbabwe 1 Benin 2 Somaliland 5 Rwanda 5 Uganda 3 Ghana 2 Tanzania 3 Namibia

6 Burundi 3 Botswana 1 Madagascar 1 Lesotho 8 Swaziland 4 Democratic Republic of the Congo 3 Sudan 4 Mozambique 4 Nigeria 1 Niger 2 Somalia 18 Sierra Leone 1 North Sudan 10 Liberia 6 Guinea 1 Ivory Coast 1 Zambia 1 Mauritania 1 Egypt

Europe 1 Georgia 14 Ukraine 1 Estonia 2 Latvia 3 Belarus

2 Moldova 15 Armenia 1 Azerbaijan 1 Denmark 4 Italy 1 Switzerland 1 Greece 2 Serbia

SORT IT Courses (2009 – 2017) Total: 53 courses with 579 participants from 87 countries

OR Resources/ Ethics /Contact persons

• Ask your epi/OR coordo/Medco/SAMU CFP • Ethics accountable: Medical Directors • OR advice/ Ethics focal points

• OCB: HIV/TB: CFPs/Petros/Emilie Other subjects: LuxOR

• OCG: Iza Ciglenecki • OCP: Brigitte Vasset • OCA: Sidney Wong/ Annick Lenglet • OCBA: Jean-Francois Saint-Saveur

Research Question

Protocol

Ethics review/approval

Moving on…

• MSF supports evidence generation

through OR in almost every project

to inform policy and practice

• OR should be embedded in the

projects

• Resources are available to support

OR at different levels